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Spanish 102 · Grammar
Irregular Preterite Verbs in Spanish
A focused summary for Spanish 102, with patterns you can drill with the examples and questions on this page.
The rule
Spanish rewards memorizing whole phrases, not just glosses: notice how articles, gender, and verb endings travel together.
When English uses one word order, Spanish may use another — object pronouns, questions, and negation follow textbook placement rules.
If your course grades accents, treat them as part of spelling: they distinguish meanings (tu/tú, si/sí) and verb tense or person.
Your instructor's charts and target dialect win on quiz day; this guide follows common US introductory programs.
Necesito repasar antes del examen.I need to review before the exam.
¿Nos vemos en la biblioteca?Shall we meet at the library?
Examples in context
Ayer compré un libro de gramática.Yesterday I bought a grammar book.preterite — completed
Ella habló con el consejero después de clase.She spoke with the advisor after class.preterite — single event
¿A qué hora salieron ustedes anoche?What time did you all leave last night?preterite — question
No entendimos la última pregunta del examen.We did not understand the last exam question.preterite — negative
Tú escribiste un ensayo muy interesante.You wrote a very interesting essay.preterite — tú
Ellos leyeron el capítulo en una hora.They read the chapter in an hour.irregular stem
¿Viste la película que recomendó el profesor?Did you see the film the professor recommended?preterite — ver
Hicimos la tarea juntos el viernes pasado.We did the homework together last Friday.preterite — hacer
Quick reference
Pronunciation
Say new vocabulary aloud so gender and stress stick.
Review loop
Mix short grammar reads with writing your own sentences so patterns stick.
Common mistakes
Wrong agreement
❌ Wrong: La problema es fácil.
✅ Correct: El problema es fácil.
Problema is masculine despite ending in -a.
Double subjects
❌ Wrong: Yo soy yo estudiante.
✅ Correct: Soy estudiante.
Drop redundant subject pronouns when the verb ending is clear.
Negation placement
❌ Wrong: Entiendo no.
✅ Correct: No entiendo.
Place no immediately before the conjugated verb.
Literal word order
❌ Wrong: ¿Qué hora es qué?
✅ Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
Keep standard question frames; do not copy English order.
Practice questions
Test what you just learned. Select an answer to see instant feedback.
Ayer yo _____ (comprar) un libro.
Ella _____ (hablar) con el profesor.
Nosotros no _____ (entender) la pregunta.
¿Tú _____ (escribir) el ensayo anoche?
Ellos _____ (leer) el capítulo tres.
You got 0/5 correct.
Want more practice on Irregular Preterite Verbs in Spanish?
Chapurra has 50 questions like these, organized by chapter. Capítulo Preliminar is free.
Start practicing free →FAQ
When do I use the preterite instead of the imperfect?
The preterite presents an action as completed or bounded: something happened, started, finished, or interrupted another action. The imperfect sets background, repeats a habit, or describes an ongoing scene without stressing an endpoint. Many stories mix them: imperfect for setting, preterite for what changed.
Do time expressions always force one tense?
Ayer or en 2019 often appear with preterite because they frame single events, but context still matters. Phrases like siempre or todos los días usually pair with imperfect when you mean “used to” or repeated past action. Learn frames from your textbook rather than memorizing one trigger word per tense.
Why does Spanish have two past tenses if English often uses one?
English can say “I studied” for both a finished stint last night and a routine years ago. Spanish separates “viewpoint”: preterite for the event as a whole, imperfect for the middle of a process or repeated backdrop. Translating word-for-word from English is a common source of mistakes.
How do irregular preterite stems work?
High-frequency verbs like ser/ir, tener, hacer, and decir use stems and endings you must memorize. Patterns group partly by meaning (e.g., -ducir → -uje), but introductory courses usually give charts. Drill the yo and ellos forms first; they are the most distinctive.
Can I use imperfect and preterite in the same sentence?
Yes. A classic pattern is imperfect for ongoing background and preterite for the interruption: Caminaba por el parque cuando vi a mi profesora. The imperfect clause sets the stage; the preterite clause is the sudden, completed notice.